The debt collector listened patiently and then gently prodded Mrs.

WSJ: For the Families of Some Debtors, Death Offers No Respite

Hently, a 1680 case that said an indebted merchant owed his debt to the person who had lent him the money, not to a debt collector who came around bearing a note.

WSJ: Paperwork Trail: The Lawyers Who Fight Foreclosures

Creditors most likely will sell the debt to a debt buyer or debt collector.

FORBES: Many Consumer Bankruptcies Do More Harm Than Good

For more on how to generate a list of agencies to evaluate, as well as lots more detail on what goes into the evaluation, download the free report, Guide to Selecting a Debt Collector for Small to Mid-Size Firms.

FORBES: Need to Hire a Debt Collector? Here's Some Practical Help

Jerry Ashton is a debt collector and long-time Occupy supporter who has given free advice to both Strike Debt and the Rolling Jubilee.

FORBES: Rolling Jubilee | A Bailout Of The People By the People